Parent Holding Teacher Hostage at Riverside Elementary School

A school in Riverside, California, was evacuated after a parent reportedly barricaded him or herself inside a classroom, officials said Tuesday, Oct. 31. The officer added that the man had been declared dead at a hospital but did not release his name.

The incident was reported at Castleview Elementary School, at 6201 Shaker Drive, said Ryan Railsback, a spokesman for the Riverside Police Department.

Riverside Unified School District Spokesman Justin Grayson said front office staff "followed procedure to the T and we're proud of them for what they did". He noted that Kennon forced his way through the school's office and punched another man, who had attempted to stop him, in the face. The suspect then took the hostage, identified as Linda Montgomery, into an empty classroom.

The students were having lunch when the incident began and no children were in the classrooms, said Grayson. Officials say she is in good condition, according to the L.A. Times.

A tense hostage standoff ended Tuesday night when a SWAT team stormed a San Diego elementary school, fatally shooting a parent who had barricaded himself in a classroom with a 70-year-old teacher for almost seven hours, PEOPLE confirms.

Railsback said negotiators had been talking to the man but hadn't heard from the teacher and feared for her life.

"So far he has not been willing to come out", Railsback says about the man.

Railsback said authorities were not sure why the parent was at the school or whether there had been previous issues with the parent at the school.

Police began releasing students to their parents after 1 p.m. Parents were required to show ID before leaving with any students.

During the seven-hour standoff, crisis negotiators made contact with the man, but didn't hear from Montgomery, which is why authorities chose to storm into the room at about 6pm. Two flash-bang grenades were detonated and authorities entered the classroom around 6 p.m., where Kennon was subsequently shot during the victim's rescue.

The suspect had suffered an "emotional breakdown" that morning, his uncle Carl Jackson told the station. The supposed family members also claim they took away the man's auto keys earlier in the day.